HEALTH AND SAFETY TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

Health, Safety and Environment has its own terms, acronyms and abbreviations.

In some cases the terms occur in everyday speech but, in Health and Safety, some have different shades of meaning to their common usage.

We have attempted to express our definitions in laymen's terms and therefore should not be assumed to have any legal standing.

Health and Safety Terms

Accident - An undesired event resulting in death, injury, damage to health, damage to property or other form of loss

Abnormal Event - An unplanned, unusual, occurrence or emergency

Absorption - Taking a substance into the body by penetration through intact skin - one of the Routes of Entry

Acute - A rapidly developing effect caused by a single or brief exposure

Adaptation - The limited ability for people to tolerate small departures from optimal conditions (equipment design, environment, etc) without significantly affecting performance, for example _ use of a chair that is a little too high or a little too low

Aerosols - Substance dispersed into the air such that the droplets or particles remain in suspension for a significant period of time

Air Exchange Rate - The rate at which inside air is replaced by outside air. The rate may be expressed as the number of changes of air per unit of time (e.g. Air Changes per Hour - ACH) or the volume of air exchanged per unit of time (e.g. Cubic Feet per minute (CFM)

Allergen - Substance causing an allergic reaction in a person who is sensitive to that substance

Ambient - Surrounding, e.g. Ambient temperature usually means the outside temperature

Anthropometric Dimensions - The dimensions of the human body. These may be static measurements (i.e. when the subject standing or seated) or functional (i.e. when the person assumes an unnatural posture)

Apparent Loudness - Measurement in decibels of sound pressure measured against the threshold of hearing, being 0 decibels. The pain threshold is 120 decibels and an increase of 3 decibels is perceived as doubling in loudness

Appointed Person - A person who has been nominated to take charge in the event of an accident or illness (and support designated first aiders if present) and has been trained in basic lifesaving first aid techniques (See Designated Person)

Approved Code of Practice - A code of practice, associated with specific regulations, that has been approved by the Health & Safety Commission. A Code of Practice is seen as the accepted standard and can be used as evidence in a court of law. It is not mandatory to follow a Code of Practice but, to be acceptable, any alternative must be demonstrated to be of equal measure or better

Asbestos - Hydrated magnesium silicate in fibrous form

Aspiration - The entry of a liquid or solid chemical product into the trachea and lower respiratory system directly through the oral or nasal cavity, or indirectly from vomiting.

Audible Range - Normal hearing frequency, approximately 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz

Background Level - The normal or typical level of a chemical in the environment, often referring to the naturally occurring level

Best Practice - A standard of risk control that is above the legal minimum (See Good Practice)

Biological Agent - A living organism or something made from a living organism that can be used beneficially (e.g. to prevent or treat disease) or maliciously (e.g. germ warfare)

Boiling Point - Temperature at which a liquid changes to a gas at normal atmospheric pressure

Carcinogen - Substance that is known or suspected of causing cancer

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - A chronic disorder of the hand and wrist possibly resulting from repetitive work involving repeated wrist flexion or extension

Catalyst - A substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected by the reaction

Central Nervous System - The part of the nervous system that includes the brain and spinal cord

Cervical Spine - The uppermost 7 vertebrae of the spine which, being very delicate, is prone to degenerative processes

Chronic - Occurring over an extended period of time

Civil Law - The body of law of a state or nation governing the behaviour of individuals and corporations.

Code of Practice - Rules established by regulatory bodies or trade associations, which are intended as a guide to acceptable behaviour. As such they do not have the force of law behind them

Combustible Liquid - Liquid with a flash point above 37.8 C (100° F)

Common Law - Source of law that is not written in statute, but which has been developed through judicial precedent. A breach of common law could result in a criminal offence or a civil action for damages.

Competent Person - A person who is appropriately trained, qualified, experienced, and skilled to undertake specific health and safety duties without risk to their own safety or that of others

Compliance - The act or process of fulfilling requirements

Compressed Gas - Substance that is a gas at normal pressure and room temperature but is held in a pressurised container resulting in it becoming a liquid

Concentration - The quantity of one substance contained in another substance e.g. the amount of salt dissolve in sea water

Contaminant - Substance - usually undesirable - in another substance, product, or space where it is not normally found, e.g. environmental pollutants

Contrast - The difference in brightness between the subject (e.g. text) and the background against which it is viewed

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health - Regulations promoting safe working with potentially hazardous chemicals

Corrosive - Substance that causes destruction of another substance, including human tissue

Cryogenics - Materials that exist at extremely low temperatures, e.g. liquid nitrogen

Cutaneous - Pertaining to or affecting the skin

Dermal - Pertaining to the skin

Designated Person - A person who has been designated as a first aider at work and has been trained to have the knowledge and confidence to deal with any first aid emergency (See Appointed Person)

Display Screen Equipment - Any alphanumeric or graphic display screen regardless of the process employed to display the information. Typical examples include computer monitors and microfilm viewers

Dose - The amount of substance to which a person is exposed in terms of the concentration of the substance and the time period during which the exposure occurs

Employment Medical - Advisory Service Part of the Health and Safety Executive, offering advice on work related health issues and on people with health problems returning to work.

Enforcement notice - a notification to remedy a breach of legislation. A document which is sent to the responsible person from a fire authority stating that the enforcing authority (fire service) is of the opinion that the responsible person or any other person as is applicable has failed to comply with any provision of the Fire Safety Order 2005 or of any regulations made under it.

European Inventory of Existing Commercial Chemical Substances (EINECS) - Inventory that lists and defines those chemical substances, which were deemed to be on the European Community market between 1 January 1971 and 18 September 1981."

Ergonomics - The application of information about human characteristics to design applications, e.g. equipment, tools, work tasks, with the aim of improving safety and efficiency

Fatigue - Transient reduced ability to work as a result of previous activity, resulting in reduced efficiency

Fires - Class A - Fires in ordinary combustible materials such as wood, cloth, paper, etc.

Class B - Fires in flammable liquids and liquefiable solids or electrical fires

Class C - Fires involving gases.

Class D - Fires involving combustible metals such as potassium or sodium

Class F - Fires involving cooking oils or fats

Fire Prevention - Precautions designed to avoid an outbreak of fire, reduce the potential for fire to spread and safeguard persons and property in the event of fire

Flammable Gas - Gas that when mixed with air forms a flammable mixture at ambient temperature and pressure

Flammable Liquid - Liquid with a flashpoint below 100°F (37.8°C)

Flammable Solid - Solid that is liable to cause fires through friction, absorption of moisture, etc. or which can be readily ignited

Flash Point - The lowest temperature at which a flame will propagate through the vapour of a combustible material

Freezing Point - Temperature at which a liquid becomes a solid, at normal atmospheric pressure

Glare - When a portion of the visual field has a significantly higher luminance than its surroundings, resulting in reduced contrast

Good Practice - HSE Definition: Those standards for controlling risk which have been judged and recognised by the HSE as satisfying the law when applied to a particular relevant case in an appropriate manner. (See Best Practice)

Guidance - Documents explain in simple terms the main elements of the full guidance to businesses. Enabling them to have a quick overview of the implications for different aspects of regulations/legislation.

Hazard - Potential for harmful effects

H-code - code starting with the letter H and followed by 3 digits designating a hazard statement for Safety Data Compilation

Health and Safety Executive - Organisation responsible for proposing safety regulations throughout the UK. It is responsible for enforcing, statute, regulations, approved codes of practice and guidance.

Illuminance - A measure of the amount of light falling on a particular point, measured in Lux

Improvement Notice - A statutory notice that is issued by an authorising body such as Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Environmental Health Officer (EHO) or Fire Officer on discovery of a breach of statute. It states that an offence has been committed, what action needs to be taken, the reason for the action and the time deadline by which it must be taken.

Incident (or Near Miss) - A generic term for those events that do not cause harm, but which might have done so under different circumstances

Indoor environmental quality - refers to the quality of a building’s environment in relation to the health and wellbeing of those who occupy space within it

Ingestion - Taking a substance into the body through the mouth, for example in the form of food or drink - one of the Routes of Entry

Inhalation - Taking a substance, typically in the form of gases, fumes, vapours, mists, aerosols, or dusts, into the body by breathing it in - one of the Routes of Entry

Inhibitor - A substance which, when added to another substance, prevents, or slows down an unwanted change or reaction

Injection - Taking a substance directly into the body by puncturing the skin, for example with a needle - one of the Routes of Entry

Irritant - A substance that produces inflammation when it makes contacts with the skin, eyes, nose, or respiratory system

Latent - A disease or condition lying dormant or hidden until circumstances are suitable for development or manifestation.

Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) - A measure used to control inhalation exposures in the workplace, as it can control the emissions of the contaminant at its source, preventing its dispersion into the work area.

Liquid Petroleum Gas - LPG consists of commercial Butane, Propane, or a mixture of the two. Major hazards are fire and explosion, though asphyxiation is also a danger in low lying areas due to LPG being heavier than air

Lock-Off - Mechanisms that, as part of engineering controls, are designed to prevent potentially dangerous equipment from being energised during routine maintenance and/or repair work

Lumbar Spine - The lower 5 vertebrae of the spine, situated below the thoracic vertebrae and above the sacral vertebrae

Luminance - A measure of the amount of light emitted or reflected by a surface in a given direction

Lux - Unit of measurement of illumination, equivalent to lumen per square

Manual Handling Operations - Tasks that require a person to exert force in order to lift, lower, push, pull, move, carry, hold, or restrain an object

Material Data Safety Sheet - Contain information on the hazards associated with a chemical, along with guidance on its safe use

Mutagen - Something that is able to cause a mutation (or genetic change) in a living cell

Narcotic - A substance that has the potential to affect the nervous system by, for example, inducing drowsiness, stupor, or insensibility

Near Miss - See "Incident"

Negligence - Can be either the omission to do something that a reasonable person would do when guided by those considerations that ordinarily regulate the conduct of human affairs, or the commission of some act that a prudent and reasonable person would not do.

NIOSHTIC-2 - a searchable bibliographic database of occupational safety and health publications, documents, grant reports, and journal articles supported in whole or in part by NIOSH.

Occupational Hygiene - uses science and engineering to prevent ill health caused by the environment in which people work. It helps employers and employees to understand the risks and improve working conditions and working practices

Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) - Value set by competent national authorities or other relevant national institutions as the limit for concentrations of hazardous compounds in workplace air

Persistence - Remaining for an extended period of time. Applicable to some chemicals (e.g. DDT) that do not easily break down into less hazardous substances

Parts per Billion - Specifies the concentration by volume of a substance dispersed in another substance

Parts Per Million - Specifies the concentration by volume of a substance dispersed in another substance

Permit to Work - Formally delivered criteria for control/risk reduction when undertaking pre-planned work that is hazardous, either because of its location or the nature of the activity.

Planning Supervisor - Responsible under Construction (Design and Management) Regulations for coordinating the health and safety aspects of the design, preparation of a health and safety plan at the pre-tender stage and preparation of the health and safety file.

Policy - A statement of an organisation _ s strategy for achieving a safe and healthy working environment and the responsibility, organisation, and arrangements for pursuing and implementing the strategy

Precautionary Statements - A phrase that describes recommended measure(s) to minimise or prevent adverse effects resulting from exposure to a hazardous substance or mixture due to its use or disposal.

Preventive Maintenance - Maintenance (including inspection, cleaning, and repair) of equipment on a regular basis that is sufficient to prevent unplanned failure

Prohibition Notice - A statutory notice that is issued by an authorising body such as Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Environmental Health Officer (EHO) or Fire Officer on discovery of a breach of statute that presents a risk of serious personal accident. The effect of the Prohibition Notice is to stop the activity from starting or to cause it to cease if it has already started.

Qualitative assessment - non-quantitative assessment of risk that includes the description of operational conditions and risk management measures in an exposure scenario. Robust quantitative evidence may be missing for hazard and/or exposure

Quantitative assessment - Quantification of risk based on the ratio between estimated exposure and substance hazardous to Health (COSHH)

Regulation - A statutory device made under a general provision that is contained in an act of parliament. Regulations themselves are approved by parliament and are generally absolute legal standards.

Residual Current Device - An electrical safety device that constantly monitors the electric current flowing through a circuit. If it senses a loss of current where electricity is being diverted to earth (as might happen if a person touches a live conductor), it rapidly shuts down the power.

Relative Humidity - The percentage ratio of vapour pressure in the atmosphere compared to the saturated vapour pressure at that temperature

Risk - A quantifiable expression of the likelihood of injury or harm resulting from a hazard

Risk Assessment - A formal estimation of the likelihood that persons may suffer injury or adverse health effects as a result of identified hazards

Risk Management - The introduction of change or control measures with the intention of eliminating or bringing the level of risk associated with a hazard within acceptable limits

Routes of Entry - The various ways in which toxic substances may enter the body, including; Absorption, Ingestion, Inhalation, Injection, and Eye-splashes

Safe System of Work - A method of working designed to eliminate, if possible, or otherwise reduce risks to health and safety

Safety Committee - A committee that promotes health and safety in the workplace, with members representing employees and management from all sections of an organisation

Safety Culture - A general term for the degree to which the culture of an organisation promotes and cooperates with safe and healthy work practices

Self-Assessment - Assessments performed by individuals (or organizations) to determine how safely they are working and meeting their health & safety responsibilities toward themselves and others

Sensitisation - Development, over time, of an allergic reaction to a substance

Sensitiser - Substance that may cause a person to develop an allergic reaction after repeated exposure

Solubility - Ability of a substance to dissolve in a liquid

Solvent - Substance that is capable of dissolving another substance

S- Phrases - Standard phrases relating to the safe use of the substance. When the current provisions are repealed, and GHS enters into force, the S-phrases will be replaced by ‘precautionary statements’.

Stress - That which might result when an event or situation places increased demand on a person's mental or emotional resources. Sources of stress may arise from domestic or social situations as well as occupational circumstances. The individual's response to such situations can lead to health and safety related problems such as depression, cardiovascular disease, musculo-skeletal disorders and an increased tendency to be accident-prone.

Substances of Very High Concern (SHVC) - Chemical hazards of highest concern (carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity (CMR) and respiratory sensitisers)

Synovial Fluid -A viscous fluid that lubricates joints and tendon sheaths

Tenosynovitis - Inflammation and swelling of the tendon sheaths, usually of the wrist or hand, potentially caused by repetitive movements such as very high-speed typing rates

Thoracic Spine - The mid and upper regions of the back, comprising 12 vertebrae that occupy the same level as the rib cage

Toxic - Substances that cause irritation of are otherwise harmful to health, such as carcinogens and poisons

Toxicity - The potential for a substance to be harmful to health

UN Hazard Codes - Class 1 - Explosive

Class 2 - Gases

Class 3.1 - Flammable liquids, flash point below -18C

Class 3.2 - Flammable liquids, flash point between -18C and 23C

Class 3.3 - Flammable liquids, flash point between 23C and 61C

Class 4.1 - Flammable solids

Class 5.1 - Oxidizing agents

Class 5.2 - Organic peroxides

Class 6.1 - Poisonous substances

Class 7 - Radioactive substances

Class 8 - Corrosive substances

Class 9 - Miscellaneous dangerous substances

NR - Non-regulated

Vapour - The gaseous form of a substance that is normally liquid or solid at room temperature

Ventilation - Movement of air, usually associated with the introduction of fresh air

Volatility - Ability of a substance to evaporate

Workplace Exposure Limit - Established concentration of a substance that, if not exceeded, will not normally result in adverse effects to persons who are exposed

Workstation - The combination of equipment items that a user requires to fulfil their allotted tasks. In Display Screen Equipment terms, the components might include: desk, chair, computer monitor, keyboard, processing unit and such ancillary equipment as required by the work, such as document holder or telephone.

Wrist Extension & Flexion - Bending movement of hand and wrist from the horizontal (up or down respectively). Causes tendons to curve around structures in the wrist, possibly causing friction, which can in turn result in fatigue or injury

Health and Safety Abbreviations

ACM - Asbestos-containing Material

ACOP - Approved Code Of Practice

ACS - Approved Contractor Scheme

ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake

ADR - European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (see RID)

AFAIRP - As Far As Is Reasonably Practicable

AHERA - Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act

AIB - Asbestos Insulation Board

AIR - Accident Injury Rate

ALARA - As Low As Reasonably Achievable

ALARP - As Low As Reasonably Practicable

ALI - Annual Limit Of Intake

AOR - Artificial optical radiation

APELL - Awareness And Preparedness For Emergencies At Local Level

ARCA - Asbestos Removal Contractors Association

ASLIC - Asbestos (licensing) Regulations

BA - Breathing Apparatus

BEI - Biological Exposure Indices

BEIS - Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

BEL - Biological Exposure Limits

BIS - Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

BLEVE - Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion

BMA - British Medical Association

BOHS - British Occupational Hygiene Society

BPM - Best Practicable Means

BPR - Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR, Regulation (EU) 528/2012)

BSC - British Safety Council

BSI - British Standards Institute

BSO - Basic Safety Objective

BSS - Basic Safety Standards Directive

BTS - British Toxicology Society

CA - Corrective Action

CA(BA) - Compressed Air (breathing Apparatus)

CAWR - Control Of Asbestos At Work Regulations

CBP - Construction Best Practice

CBI - Confederation of British Industry

CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CDM - Construction (Design and Management) Regulations

CDG - The Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road Regulations

CE - The letters "CE" do not represent any specific words but the mark is a declaration by the manufacturer, indicating that the product satisfies all relevant European Directives. Note, however, that the mark only applies to products that fall within the scope of European Directives.B41

CET - Corrected Effective Temperature

CFC - Chlorofluorocarbons

CFM - Cubic Feet per Minute. Amount of air flowing through a given space in one minute. One CFM approximately equals Two litres per second (l/s)

CHANs - Chemical Hazard Alert Notices

CHAS - Contractors Health And Safety Assessment Scheme

CHIP - Chemical (hazard Information And Packaging) Regulations

CHSW - Construction (health Safety And Welfare) Regulations

CIEHF - Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors

CIMAH - Control Of Industrial Major Accident Hazards Regulations

CISRS - Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme

CITB - Construction Industry Training Board, also known as ConstructionSkills (sometimes abbreviated as CSkills)

CLAW - Control Of Lead At Work Regulations 1981

CLH - Harmonised classification and labelling

CLP - (Classification, labelling and packaging) Regulation

CMR - Carcinogenicity, Mutagenicity, Reproductive toxicity

CNS - Central Nervous System

CO - Carbon Monoxide

COMAH - Control Of Major Accident Hazards

CONIAC - Construction Industry Advisory Committee

COP - Code Of Practice

COSHH - Control Of Substances Hazardous To Health Regulations

CPC - Chemical Protective Clothing

CPL - Classification, Packaging And Labelling Of Dangerous Substances Regulations 1984

CPCS - Construction Plant Competence Scheme

CPR - Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

CRMP - Corporate Risk Management Plan

CRT - Cathode Ray Tube

CSCS - Construction Skills Certification Scheme

CTS - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

CVD - Cardiovascular Disease

C(WP) - Construction (Work Place) Regulations

DART - Days Away, Restricted or Transferred

dB - Decibels

dB(A) - Decibels On The A Weighted Scale

DBA - Design Basis Accident

DDA - Disability Discrimination Act

DECC - Department of Energy and Climate Change

DFM - Dust, Fume And Mist

DH - Duty Holder

DO - Dangerous Occurrence

DSAC - Design Safety Analysis And Control

DSC - Design Safety Case

DSE - Display Screen Equipment

DSEAR - Dangerous Substances And Explosives Atmospheres Regulations

DSHA Regs - Dangerous Substances In Harbours And Harbour Areas Regulations

EA - Environmental Agency

EAE - Evidence Analysis And Evaluation

EAWR - Electricity at Work Regulations

ECHA - European Chemicals Agency

ECL - Exposure Control Limit

EECS - Electrical Equipment Certification Service

EEL - Emergency Exposure Limit

EER - Emergency Evacuation And Rescue

EERA - Evacuation, Escape And Rescue Assessment

EHSR - Essential Health And Safety Requirement

EHO - Environmental Health Officer

EIA - Environmental Impact Assessment

ELCI - Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance

EMAS - Eco-Management and Audit Scheme

EMAS - Employment Medical Advisory Service

EMR - Electromagnetic Radiation or Emergency Response

"EINECS -

European Inventory of Existing Commercial Chemical Substances"

EPA - Environmental Protection Act

EPS - Enforcement Policy Statement

ERL - Emergency Reference Level

FA - Factories Act

FAAM - Faculty of Asbestos Assessment and Management

FC(SP)R - Fire Certificate (special Premises) Regulations 1977

FH(G) - Food Hygiene (General) Regulations

FIA - Fire Industry Association

Fit3 - Fit For Work, Fit For Life, Fit For Tomorrow

FLP - Flameproof

FLT - Fork Lift Truck

FOH - Faculty of Occupational Hygiene

FOM - Faculty of Medicine

FOPS - Falling Object Protective Structure(s)

FP(W)R - Fire Precautions (workplace) Regulations 1998

FPA - Fire Precautions Act

FPA71 - Fire Precautions Act 1971

GDPR - General Data Protection Regulations

GFP - General Fire Precautions

GHGB - Good Health Is Good Business

GHS - Global Harmonised System

GMAW - Gas Metal Arc Welding

GMC - General Medical Council

GN:CS - Guidance Note : Chemical Safety

GN:EH - Guidance Note : Environmental Health

GN:GS - Guidance Note : General Series

GN:MS - Guidance Note : Medical Series

GN:PM - Guidance Note : Plant And Machinery

GP - General Practitioner

HACCP - Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point

HASAC - Health and Safety Advice Centre

HASAWA - Health And Safety At Work Act 1975

HAV - Hand-arm Vibration

HAZAN - Hazard Analysis Numerical Methods

HAZCHEM - Hazardous Chemical Warning Signs

HAZCOM - Hazards Communication Standard

HAZOP - Hazard And Operability Study

HFL - Human Factors (also known as Human Performance or Behavioural Safety)

HFL - Highly Flammable Liquid

HI - Hazardous Installation

HIA - Health Impact Assessment

HPD - Hearing Protection Devices

HPLC - High Performance Liquid Chromatography

HPM - Hazardous Production Materials

HR - Human Resources

HRR - Health Risk Review

H&S - Health & Safety

HSC - Health and Safety Commission

HSCER - Health And Safety (consultation With Employers) Regulations

HSDSER - Health & Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations

HSE - Health And Safety Executive

HSG - Health And Safety Guidance Booklet

HSL - Health and Safety Laboratory

HSW Act - Health And Safety At Work etc Act 1975

HT - Hazard Type

HVAC - Heating, Ventilating And Air Conditioning

HWE - Healthy Worker Effect

HzSC - Hazardous Substances Consent

ICOH - International Commission on Occupational Health

IDLH - Immediately Dangerous To Life Or Health

IEQ - Indoor environmental quality

IFSM - Institute of Fire Safety Managers

IN - Improvement Notice

IOD - Institute of Directors

IOH - Institute of Occupational Hygienists

IOM - Institute Of Medicine

IOSH - Institution of Occupational Safety and Health

IP - Injured Person

IPC - Integrated Pollution Control

"IPPC -

Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control "

IRLR - Industrial Relations Law Report

IRM - Institute of Risk Management

IRSM - International Institute of Risk and Safety Management

IS - Intrinsic Safety

IS - Intrinsically Safe

ISO - International Organization for Standardization

ISO:14001 - International Standard for Environmental Management Systems

ISO:45001 - International Standard for Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems

IT - Industrial Tribunal

IT - Information Technology

IUCLID - International Uniform Chemical Information Database

LEL - Lower Exposure Limit

LEV - Local Exhaust Ventilation

LOLER - Lifting Operations And Lifting Equipment Regulations

LPG - Liquid Petroleum Gas

LTA - Lost Time Accident

LTI - Lost Time Incident

LTSRs - Long Term Safety Reviews

LTV - Lock, Tag, Verify

LWD - Lost Work Day

LWDR - Lost Work Day Rate

MAPP - Major Accident Prevention Policy

MCG - Major Contractors Group

MEL - Maximum Exposure Limit

MEWP - Mobile Elevating Work Platform

MH - Major Hazards/Manual Handling

MHIDAS - Major Hazards Incident Data Service

MHLWP - Major Hazards Legislation Working Party

MHOR - Manual Handling Operations Regulations

MHSP - Major Hazards Strategic Programme

MHSWR - Management Of Health And Safety At Work Regulations

MI - Mandatory Investigation

MIIB - Major Incident Investigation Board

MR - Mandatory Reporting

MS - Method Statement

MSD - Musculoskeletal Disorder

MSDS - Material Safety Data Sheet(s)

MT - Medical Treatment

NADOR - Notification Of Accidents And Dangerous Occurrences Regulations

NAWR - Control of Noise at Work Regulations

NC - Non-conformance

NEBOSH - The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health

NHS - National Health Service

NIHL - Noise Induced Hearing Loss

NIOSH - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

NORA - National Occupational Research Agenda

NSI - National Security Inspectorate

NVQ - National Vocational Qualification

OEL - Occupational Exposure Limit

OH - Occupational Health

OHAC - Occupational Health Advisory Committee of The Health & Safety Commission

OHA - Occupational Health Advisor

OHNA - Occupational Health Nurse Advisor

OHN - Occupational Health Nurse

OHP - Occupational Health Physician

OPL - One Point Lesson

OSH - Occupational Safety and Health

OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration

OSRPA - Offices Shops & Railway Premises Act

PACT - The Public Activities Coordination Tool

PAT - Portable Appliance Test

PCAW - Public Concern At Work

PCBs - Polychlorinated biphenyl (found in electrical transformers as dielectric and coolant fluids in electrical apparatus)

PCSR - Pre-construction Safety Report

PED - Pressure Equipment Directive (Directive 97/23/EC)

PEEP - Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan

PER - Pressure Equipment Regulations 1999 (SI 1999/2001)

PFEER - Prevention Of Fire Explosion And Emergency Response Regulations

PFP - Process Fire Precautions

PHSA - Planning (hazardous Substances) Act 1990

PIC - Prior Informed Consent Regulation (PIC, Regulation (EU) 649/2012)

PII - Professional Indemnity Insurance

PN - Prohibition Notice

POOSH - Professional Organisations In Occupational Health And Safety

POPMAR - Policy, Organising, Planning And Implementing, Measuring, Auditing And Reviewing

PoW - Plan Of Work

Ppb - Parts Per Billion

PPE - Personal Protective Equipment

PPEWR - Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations

Ppm - Parts Per Million

PRA - Probabilistic Risk Analysis

PRA - Probabilistic Risk Assessment

PSAR - Preliminary Safety Analysis Report

PSI - Principal Specialist Inspector

PSSR - Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000

PTW - Permit To Work

PUWER - Provision And Use Of Work Equipment Regulations

PWP - Personal Work Plan

QA/QC - Quality Assurance/Quality Contro

QC - Quality Control

QMS - Quality Management Systems

RAC - ECHA's Committee for Risk Assessment

RAMS - Risk Assessment Method Statement

RASWA - Road and Street Works Act.

RCD - Residual Current Device

REACH - Registration Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals

REGS - Regulations

REL - Recommended Exposure Limit

RID - European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (see ADR)

RIDDOR - Reporting Of Injuries, Diseases And Dangerous Occurrences Regulations

RISKAT - Risk Assessment Tool

RITA - Record of In-Training Assessment

RoR - Review Of Regulation

ROSPA - Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents

RRO - Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRO)

RPE - Respiratory Protective Equipment

RSA - Regional Specialty Adviser

RSI - Repetitive Strain Injury

RSP - Relevant Statutory Provision

RTW - Return to Work

SACA - Systemic Accident Cause Analysis

SBS - Sick Building Syndrome

SC - Safety Case

SCBA - Self Contained Breathing Apparatus

SCHAM - Safety Case Handling And Assessment Manual

SCMST - Safety Case Management Support Team

SCR - Safety Case Regulations

SCS - Safety Case (it) Systems

SDS - Safety Data Sheet

SFA - Senior First Aid

SFAIRP - So Far As Is Reasonably Practicable

SHAD - Safety Health And Awareness Day

SHE - Safety Health and Environment

SHMP - Safety & Health Management Plan (action plan to implement SHMS)

SHMS - Safety & Health Management System

SIB - Safety Information Bulletin (dh)

SIFR - Serious Injury Frequency Rate

SIP - Site Inspection Programme

SIR - Specialist Inspection Report

SIT - Safety Improvement Team

SMART - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic And Timebound

SMDP - Senior Management Development Programme

SME - Small And Medium-sized Enterprises

SMP - Safety management Plan

SMS - Safety Management System

SMSTS - Site Management Safety Training Scheme

SOP - Standard Operating Procedure

SOPs - Standard Operating Procedures

SPL - Single Point Lesson

SPV - Simple Pressure Vessels (Safety) Regulations 1991

SPVD - Simple Pressure Vessels Directive (Directive 87/404/EEC)

SRI - Safety Related Instrumentation

SRO - Statutory Regulation Order

SSHR - Site Safety & Health Representative

SSOP - Safe Standard Operating Procedure

STEL - Short Term Exposure Limit

STOT - Specific Target Organ Toxicity

SVHC - Substances of Very High Concern

SWI - Safe (or Standard) Work Instruction – short summary of the SOP, usually one page, listing risks and risk controls.

SWL - Safe Working Load

SWMS - Safe Work Method Statement

SWP - Safe Work Procedures, Safe Work Platform, Safe Working Practice

T - Toxic

TBT - Tool Box Talk

TR - Total Recordable

TRR - Total Recordable Rate

TUC - Trades Union Congress

UKAS - United Kingdom Accreditation Service

UKATA - United Kingdom Asbestos Training Association

VAWR - Vibration at Work Regulations

VDU - Visual Display Unit

VWF - Vibration White Finger

WAHR - Work at Height Regulations

WBGT - Wet Bulb Globe Thermometer

W@H - Work at Heights

WAH - Work at Heights

WBV - Whole Body Vibration

WEC - Work of Engineering Construction

WEEE - Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations

WEG - Working Exposure Guidelines

WEL - Workplace Exposure Limit

WHO - World Health Organisation

WHS - Workplace Health and Safety

WHSO - Workplace Health and Safety Officer

WHSWR - Workplace (Health Safety & Welfare) Regulations

WI - Work Instruction

WICS - Work in Confined Space

WMS - Work Method Statement

WRULD - Work related Upper Limb Disorder

XI - Irritant